ANGER

After our last topic (Lust by 2ND Look), I thought it would be nice to lighten things up a bit and discuss ANGER. [Due to the graphic nature of the former topic I took it down. If you would like a copy I can email it to you. Just DM me @HisFriendlyWay w/your address]

Be angry, but don't sin...

In walking the spiritual way you could say: yes, we must. But in reality the balancing act of anger and sin is quite an act of dance in art.

The words of Paul in Ephesians 4:26 "In your anger do not sin : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.." True, but just how for some is the difference between winning the day for Christ, and losing moments of life for themselves, their families, friends and co-workers. For some if the balance tips in favor of their anger into sin, they can lose everything! So this blog is dedicated to those who fight the good fight against ANGER.
First we must define ANGER in spiritual terms. Now anger does not come from the devil. If it did, it would be impossible for it to be any good at all. And the word clearly states, in today's parlance, to "get angry..." Now Paul would say go ahead do this if it were a sin.

But beyond Paul we have a greater example. Our Father, gets angry. Zechariah 1:2 "The LORD was very angry with your forefathers." Deuteronomy 1:37 Because of you the LORD became angry with me also and said, "You shall not enter it, either." Numbers 32:10 "The LORD's anger was aroused that day..."

But the very first time the words "anger' or 'angry" appear in the word, is with Cain. Genesis 4:5 "... So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast." In this first story of anger that turns into the first murder, it almost seems like God is picking a fight with Cain. But was he?

In the first part of the story, Cain and his younger brother Abel offer God their offerings. God was pleased and looked on favor with Abel's offering, but Cain's he did not. Now this act of "favor" angered the older brother. God saw this asking Cain, why?
Now, the answer as we can read it, was simple. While Cain gave God his first fruits, he didn't give him his "choice" fruits. Abel gave God his first fruits, but in giving he gave God his "choice" fruits. The best of his crops, the cream, that which rises to the top, the fat-portion of his best crops.

But in his anger, instead of understanding and learning how God wants things to be offered to him, Cain held only onto the rage from hurt and loss of pride. This led to murder. Cain's anger became sin.

Before the murder though God told Cain; Genesis 4:7 "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

And later God's point is revealed. Sin was crouching at Cain's door, and it did desire to have him. But God also told Cain that he must "master it."

But what happened? Through pain, hurt, pride, his anger boiled, until it blew. And Cain committed the first murder, and the first lie as well.
This is the cycle of ANGER boiled over. Destruction, lies, and shame. You know full well how you feel after you've acted out of the flesh. How it pains you. You've hurt someone.

But ANGER for some is addictive because the need it feeds is in some cases, greater than the punishment it deals. Until sin, the devil, has you right where he wants you. This is where MASTERING ANGER is so critical. The word says, resist the devil and he will flee. Resist, MASTER your feelings.

This is how you can break free.

Before the steps, know that anger before it becomes sin is righteous, i.e. Jesus turning over the money tables in the temple. Anger, is a defensive mechanism against injustice, danger, evil, and harm. But remember Satan is not a creator he is a deceiver.

God creates and Satan attempts to rob the good God made and pervert it, for the purpose of taking it away from God. Do not be fooled! Satan wanted God's Throne! He wanted to be "like the Most High." He uses deception to steal from God Himself. Of course the war is "finished," but Satan's opportunistic pride has not abated.

The Book says he fights until he is thrown into the lake of burning sulfur where he will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Amen! But this is the second death. Be wise, because this enemy never knows it's over!

Here is what is good. If you get angry when someone is being picked on that is the righteousness of God in you. If you go to the one picking on the person and attempt to stop them that too is righteous. But if you do them one better, hurt them after the threat is gone, or do nothing but have visions of beating maiming or killing that person, you've sinned.

Also, not dealing with injustices toward ones self is also the sin of anger.

It's called DEPRESSION. You have simply traded outward anger for inward anger. Balance. You are not allowed by God to hate even yourself.

Remember 1 Corinthians 3:16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

1 Corinthians 3:17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.

Recognize the truth:

First know that the devil desires to "devour" you. Now the Greek word for devour literally means "to drink." He cannot have your soul, if you are saved but he can hurt your testimony, keep you from achieving the things Christ has for you, and he can keep you from becoming a witness for Christ in the venue Christ would have you. So your anger-fueled offenses will not amount to much, until the devil has you right at the point where you benefit him the most and hurt Christ the greatest.

Get support:

You can't get through life alone - period. There's no qualifier here. You're not God you can't do it alone. CANNOT. And by the way, not even God wants to be alone. "Let us make man.." God in three? Please, get over yourself. I mean that in love. Remember "it is not good for man to be alone." Now having said that: men seek help from men, and women from women. This is critical, and without option. Talk things out with fellows. Join a group, create one, your GOD is The Creator, you're made in his image - he creates - you create. But by whatever means that is holy under God get it done. DO NOT STAND ALONE!

Bring your flesh under submission:

Read the word, as much as the daylight will allow. Pray often. It helps to pray for others, this takes you out of yourself and places others ahead of you. This is good and helps kill the flesh. And don't be afraid to start by apologizing often for foul language. This is a step but a good one. Get uncomfortable with bad language. This is a big flesh killers.

And Love:

Catch yourself and apologize to God for saying bad thing for thinking less of someone, for being apathetic regarding people you don't like. Ask God as situations arise to help you see as he would, not as you would. Do it all the time. You'll find God beginning a change in you. The Christ journey is beautiful, but not always delightful, so take the steps along the narrow path and choose love over hate. And trust in God over fear.

Love = trust. Love the Lord your God with your whole being, heart, mind and soul, and when tough times arise - you can resist the devil, and he will flee. He really does have a short attention span, lots to do and not a lot of time left. He can ill afford to hangout with you.

But God will never leave, and his Holy Spirit will guide, but you must choose to listen. You develop ears by taking all the steps of love. Then you'll be ready to master your flesh when in counts the most and not let your anger turn into sin.